Wheel and axle



April 20,1926. 158L476 H. W-v SANFORD WHEEL AND AXLE Filed March 18,1925 3 Sheets-Shoot 1 April 20 1926. 1,581,476

H. w. SANFORD WHEEL AND AXLE- Filed March 18, 1925" 3 SheetsQ-Sheet 2 Aril 20, 1926. 1 1,581,476

H. W. SANFORD WHEEL AND AXLE Filed March 18, 1925 V 3 Sheets-SheetPatented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

HUGH W. SANFORD, 0F KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

WHEEL AND AXLE,

Application filed March 18, 1925. Serial No. 16,489.

This invention relates particularly to such wheels and axles as are-usedon mine cars and similar railway cars; but it Wlll be seen that thisimprovement may be otherwise applied. The object of the invention is toprovide improved means for mounting the wheel on the axle and securingthe wheel to the axle and to make provision for lubricating the axle andthe parts bearing thereon.

In the form shown by the drawings, all the means for holding the wheelagainst endwise movement on the axle, in either direction, are appliedat the end of the axle,

means for making engagementbetween the axle and the inner end of the hubbeing absent;

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the outer face of a wheel to which myimprovement is applied;

Fig. 2 is an upright section on the line, 2-2, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line, 3, 4.3, 4: of Fig. 2, looking towardthe left;

Fig. 4 is .a section on the line, 3, 43, 4, of Fig. 2, looking towardthe right;

Fig. 5 is a sectionon the line, 5-5, of Fig. 2, looking toward the left;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the hemispherical axle cap whichsurrounds the end.

of the axle; v

Fig. 7 is a plan of the axle cap shown by Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line, 8.-8, of

r Fig. 2, looking toward the right, and showing the application of thehub cap to the hub I Fig. 9 is an upright section onthe line, 9-9, ofFig. 2, looking toward the right.

Referring to said drawings, A is an axle of ordinary :form and having atits outer end a transverse aperture, A to receive a cotter or key, AThis cotter or key also extends through the apertures, B of an axle cap,B, which surrounds the end .of

' the axle and has the apertures, B in alignment with the axle aperture,A This axle cap is hemispherical and has a fiat'inner face, B which.bears against a washer, C, which surrounds the axle and is of largerdiameter than the diameter of the face, B

of the axle caplarge enough to bear against the adjacent face, D of thehub, D of the wheel, D. Within the hub, D isthe tubular shell or lining,E. Between said lining and the axle are anti-friction rollers, F. In twotransverse planes (one is along the line, 99, Fig. 2) the rollers havecircumferential grooves, F Surrounding the axle at each set of grooves ametal ring, F lying in the adjacent grooves.

These rings serve to keep the rollers, F, in position in the hub whenthe wheel has been withdrawn from the axle. In the absence of theserings, or one such ring, the rollers would fall out of place when thewheel has been removed from the axle. The rollers and the rings are tobe put into position in the :hub while the wheel is free from the axle.The face, D of the hub, D is in a plane to which the hub axis isperpendicular, and said face is ring-form and concentric tothe hub axis,and it extends radially outward 'to make a seat forthe outer part of theinner face of the hub cap, G.

In the form show in Fig. 1 .of the drawings, a point in the intersectionof the hub axis and the plane of the outer face of the washer, C, istaken as the center for drawing the line representing the curved face ofthe axlecap. Then a point in-the axialline of the hub and the plane ofthe inner face of the washer, D, is taken as-a center for drawing thelines representing the curved part of the hub cap, G. The distance fromsaid center on said axial line to the outer face of the axle cap istaken as the radius for the inner face of the hub cap. When that linehas been drawn, the radius is extended through a distance equaling thethickness of the hub cap, and then a line representing the outer face ofsaid cap is drawn. In'theform shown by the drawings, those. concentriclines are drawn to points in ,a line, G coinciding with a radius placed60 degrees from ithe line representing thefhub axis. .From those-6Qdegree points,

straight lines are extended perpendicular to the radial line, G in whichthose points are located. The inner of these straight lines extendsalong the face, D of the hub, D and across the outer edge of the washer,C, without making contact with that washer.

At several places, cap screws, G extend through the outer part of thehub cap into the part of the hub, D on which is the hub face, D A nutlock member, G is placed between the cap screw head and the outer faceof the hub cap to prevent the turning of said cap after it has beendriven inward as far as it is to go. Between the hub face, D and theadjacent part of the inner face of the hub cap, Gr, may be placed anysuitable packing, G To facilitate the placing of this packing, the hubface, D may be provided with a groove or channel, G, into which thepacking may extend.

In a position corresponding to the positions of the cap screws, G atubular grease plug, H, of ordinary form extends through the hub cap, G,and the adjacent part of the hub, D to a channel. H formed 1n the innerface of the hub along a plane to which the hub axis is perpendicular. Bymeans of this screw plug, lubricant maybe delivered into said channel.From that channel lubricant will pass through the slot, E formed in theshell or lining, E, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Thus the lubricant willreach the rollers, F. The lubricant may pass to the washer, C, throughthe spaces between the rollers and thence through ports, C into thespace between the axle cap and the hub cap. In small quantity, thelubricant may also pass from the channel, H along the outer face of thelining, E, to the inner face of the washer, C, and between that face andthe hub face, D into the space between the outer edge of the washer, C,and the hub cap. In small quantity, lubricant may also pass outwardalong the axle and through the washer, G, into the axle cap. The spacewithin the hub cap which is not occupied by metal constitutes alubricant reservoir.

Thus provision is made for delivering ample lubricant to the rollers, F,and to the washer, C, and the axle cap.

The washer, C, should rotate with the wheel hub, in order to avoidwearing on the hub and to compel wearing between the meeting faces ofthe washer and the axle cap. To compel rotation of the washer with thehub, any suitable means may be employed.

, The drawings (lower part of Fig. 2) show,

for this purpose, a lug, D, formed on the hub face, D and resting in arecess, C in the adjacent face of the washer, C.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that endwise wheelthrust, in either direction, is taken by the axle cap, B. When there isinward wheel thrust, the axle cap is pressed by the hub cap, G. When thewheel thrust is outward, the hub face, D presses the washer, C, againstthe inner flat face of the axle cap, B. hen there is rotation of thewheel under endwise pressure in either direction, the impact causesturning of the washer, C, on the axle cap or of the hub cap, G, on theaxle cap. Only these two contacts are concerned with wearing duringrotation of the wheel under endwise pressure. Hence the end of the wheelhub is not exposed to wear. If replacing on account of wear is needed,only the axle cap and the hub cap and the washer, C, are involved. Ifany one of these three members has become so much worn as to requirereplacing, that replacing involves only a small member. Thus replacingon. account of such wear is economical. But these three parts, the twocaps and the washer, are made to resist wear. The axle cap has its outerfaces chilled, and the hub cap, G, and the washer, C, are made of steel.Thus each pairof wearing faces consists of a face of steel and a chilledface, and such faces to a large extent resist wear. Hence these threemembers can be in service a long time before replacing is needed. Inthis connection, it is to be remembered that the hub cap seals well allthe parts over which it extends, whereby external dust is excluded and agood lubricant reservoir is formed within the hub cap. Thus the majorwearing surfaces are constantly in lubricant.

lVhile Fig. 2 of the drawings shows the parts so fitted as to bring thehub cap and the axle cap and the axle cap and the washer and the washerand the end of the hub in contact with each other, it is to beunderstood that allowance may be made for play between said parts. 7

It is also to be observed that the ordinary axle box housing is to beused to enclose the inner end of the hub, and that the ordinary annularshoulder or collar is to be placed on the axle to prevent endwisemovement of the axle relative to the car body.

For removing the wheel from the axle, the hub cap is detached and thekey, A withdrawn.

I claim as my invention,

1. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surround ing the end ofthe axle, a key extending through the axle and engaging the axle cap,and a hub cap extendingover the axle cap and secured to the hub,substantially as described.

2. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surround ing the end ofthe axle, a key extending through the axle and engaging the axle cap, awasher surrounding the axle between the axle cap and the hub, and a hubcap extending over the axle cap and secured to the hub, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle and having at its outer end an obliqueannular face, of an axle cap surrounding and secured to the. end of theaxle, and a hub cap extending over the axle cap and secured to the hub,substantially as described.

4. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle and having at its outer end an obliqueannular face, of an axle cap surrounding and secured to the end of theaxle, a hub cap extending over the axle cap, and cap screws extendingthrough the hub cap into the hub, substantially as described.

5. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surrounding and securedto the end of the axle, a washer surrounding the axle between the axlecap and the hub, a hub cap extending over the axle cap and secured tothe hub, and packing between the hub cap and the hub, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surrounding and securedto the end of the axle, a washer surrounding the axle between the axlecap and the hub and rotatable with the hub,,and a hub cap extending overthe axle cap and secured to the hub, substantially as described.

'7. In a structure of the kind described,the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surrounding and securedto the end of the axle, a hub cap extending over the axle cap andsecured to the hub, the hub having an interior annular lubricantchannel, and a lubricant delivmember communicating with said channel,substantially as described.

8. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surrounding and securedto the end of the axle, a hub cap extending over the axle cap andsecured to the hub, a slotted tubular shell within the hub, the hubhaving on its inner face an annular channel, and a lubricant deliverymember communicating with said channel, substantially as described.

9. In a structure of the kind described,the combination with an axle anda hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surrounding and secured tothe end of the axle, a washer placed between the axle cap and the huband having lubricant ports, and a hub cap extending over the axle capand secured to the hub, substantially as described.

10. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surrounding and securedto the end of'the axle, a washer placed between the axle cap and the huband the washer and the hub being formed for inter-engagement, and a hubcap extending over the axle cap and secured to the hub, substantially asdescribed.

11. Ina structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surrounding and securedto the end of the axle, a hub cap extending over the axle cap andsecured to the hub, and a part of the meeting faces ofsaid members beingchilled, substantially as described.

12. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surrounding the axle, of an axle cap surrounding and securedto the end of the axle, a hub cap extending over the axle cap andsecured to the hub, and the face of the axle cap being chilled,substantially as described.

13. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axleand a hub surroundingthe axle, of an axle cap surrounding the end of theaxle, a key engaging the axle and the cap, and a hub cap extending overthe axle cap and key, substantially as described.

14:. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axle,of a hub-having at its outer end an oblique annular face,

a concave hub cap having an edge reaching over said face, and meansalong said edge for securing said cap to the hub, substantially asdescribed.

15. In a structure of the kind described, the combination with an axle,of a hub having at its outer end an oblique annular face, a concave hubcap having an edge reaching over said face, means along said edge forsecuring said cap to the hub, and a grease plug in the part of the hubhaving the annular face, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, this sixth day of March, inthe year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-five.

HUGH W. SANFORD.

